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One World with Zain Asher
Iran Unearthing its Huge Missile Arsenal, CNN Analysis Finds; IDF Targets Hezbollah Missile Commander in Beirut; Five People Trapped in Laos Cave Found Alive, Two Still Missing; DOJ Launches Criminal Probe of E. Jean Carroll; Naomi Osaka Sports Eiffel Tower-Themed Dress at Tournament. Aired 11-11:30a ET
Aired May 28, 2026 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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BIANNA GOLODRYGA, CNN HOST, ONE WORLD: Hello, everyone. Live from New York, I'm Bianna Golodryga. Zain is off today. You are watching "One World".
Iran's Revolutionary Guard is threatening a firm response to any renewed U.S. attacks after both sides traded a new round of strikes, further
jeopardizing a tense truce.
CENTCOM confirmed that Iran fired a ballistic missile toward Kuwait overnight, but was intercepted. Kuwait called the move a dangerous
escalation. Earlier, the IRGC said that it targeted an unmanned American base in retaliation for U.S. strikes in Southern Iran, that one U.S.
official described as defensive in nature.
This new clash underscores the uncertainty surrounding fragile negotiations underway to end the three-month war. National Security Reporter Jennifer
Hansler joins us now from the U.S. State Department. So, Jennifer CENTCOM issuing a statement over X, calling this a dangerous escalation, and once
again describing the U.S. actions as self-defense. Just tell us the latest.
JENNIFER HANSLER, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL SECURITY REPORTER: Well, Bianna, this is the second time in less than a week that we have seen the U.S. carry out
what they described as defensive strikes against Iran. What's notable in this case is that response we saw from CENTCOM, not only calling it a
dangerous escalation, but also describing it as a quote egregious ceasefire violation.
Now I want to talk you through what we saw happen last night in the U.S. time. The U.S. took out what they said were five one-way attack drones from
Iran that they said were going to pose a threat in and around the Strait of Hormuz. They also said that they hit a site in Bandar Abbas, Iran, that
they said was preparing to launch a sixth attack drone.
Now, hours after these U.S. actions, we saw the U.S., or the Iranians, rather, take a retaliatory measure. They launched a ballistic missile,
according to CENTCOM, towards Kuwait that was intercepted, and this is where we see the U.S. speaking out very firmly that this is a ceasefire
violation.
Now, in the past, we have seen administration officials sort of downplaying this volleying of attacks between the two sides, so it is notable that they
are stepping up the rhetoric here. Now the question now becomes, how much this could pose a threat to those ongoing peace negotiations that are
happening indirectly between the U.S. and Iran?
There were signs throughout the course of this past week, starting last Saturday, when we heard that announcement from the U.S. President on Truth
Social, suggesting that a deal could be imminent, that the two sides were starting to coalesce around at least a framework agreement on ending that
war.
We heard from other officials earlier this week, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, saying things were down to things like language in terms
of that agreement, we understand there were key sticking points, of course, still on the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's nuclear program, but there had
been promising signs this week that perhaps things were moving forward.
However, we should also note that the president has made clear that he is not in a rush to see this conflict end. He made comments at his cabinet
meeting yesterday, saying that he doesn't need to worry about the midterms, so he is not going to be pressured into making what he describes as
anything less than a great deal.
Now, we don't know exactly how much these ongoing volleys of attacks could shuttle -- scuffle rather any of these, these ongoing diplomatic efforts.
Tomorrow, we understand that Secretary of State Marco Rubio will be meeting with one of those key mediators, the Pakistani Foreign Minister here at the
U.S. State Department.
So, there are a lot of eyes in terms of how just how sensitive this deal could be, and whether or not this will serve to cast things to the side,
Bianna?
GOLODRYGA: Yeah. And AXIOS is reporting that a deal, or an MOU, a framework for a deal, a memorandum of understanding, has been agreed to by both
sides, just needs the sign off from President Trump. But as you noted, what he said yesterday, that he is in no rush to sign a deal at this point.
Jennifer Hansler, thank you so much.
Well, the Trump Administration has claimed repeatedly that U.S. and Israeli strikes have largely obliterated Iran's arsenal of missiles, but a CNN
investigation using recent satellite imagery shows Tehran is quickly digging its way back into underground stores of weapons temporarily blocked
by air attacks. CNN's Tamara Qiblawi reports with analysis with Thomas Boudreau.
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TAMARA QIBLAWI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): These are recent satellite images of Iran's missile bases taken after the start of the ceasefire with
the U.S. and Israel. Dump trucks and excavators digging through piles of rubble along the mountainside, but it's what lies beneath the surface that
makes this significant.
A vast stockpile of missiles trapped by U.S. bombs and likely intact, according to weapons experts, with satellite images showing Iran quickly
regaining access to them, casting doubts on U.S. President Donald Trump's claims of having all but vanquished Iran's formidable rocket arsenal.
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Their ability to launch missiles and drones is dramatically curtailed, and their weapons
factories and rocket launchers are being blown to pieces. Very few of them left.
QIBLAWI (voice-over): CNN previously identified the pattern of U.S.-Israeli strikes to put Iran's missile complexes out of commission, not by
destroying them, but by blocking the tunnel entrances leading in and out of them. Leaving the rockets trapped inside and severely hampering Iran's
ability to wreak havoc on U.S. allies in the region.
But that was only a temporary solution. Iran is already undoing the effects of that strategy. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has acknowledged that Iran
has been repairing the damage.
PETE HEGSETH, U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY: You are digging out your remaining launchers and missiles with no ability to replace them. You have no defense
industry.
QIBLAWI (voice-over): But the recovery is widespread, and it is happening quickly. CNN looked at 69 tunnels across 18 underground missile bases. At
least 50 of those access points appear to have been cleared, and many others are being repaired.
Take this base in Western Iran. Just weeks ago, U.S.-Israeli fighter jets destroyed all four entrances to the underground complex, but now two of
them appear wide open. The roads needed to wheel out its trapped rocket launchers repaved, and Iran is already in the process of clearing the
remaining two.
It's also repaired some of the more than a dozen craters left behind by U.S.-Israeli munitions. The craters indicate that a large amount of
firepower was used to destroy just two tunnel entrances, and all Iran needs to reopen them: dump trucks and bulldozers.
As Iran rallies around the missiles that survived the war, weapons experts say it will continue to come up with new ways to protect its arsenal from
any renewed U.S.-Israeli bombing. Tamara Qiblawi, CNN, London.
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GOLODRYGA: Now, in response to a request for comment, the Pentagon referred CNN to a previous statement, saying, quote, America's military is the most
powerful in the world and has everything it needs to execute at the time and place of the president's choosing. We have executed multiple successful
operations across combatant commands while ensuring the U.S. military possesses a deep arsenal of capabilities to protect our people and our
interests.
The United Nations says that it is deeply alarmed by the impact of intensifying Israeli military action in Lebanon and is calling for urgent
de-escalation. Earlier, an Israeli source says that the IDF carried out a strike targeting Hezbollah's missile commander in Beirut. On Wednesday
Lebanon said 34 people were killed in Israeli attacks, including children.
It comes amid an escalation of IDF strikes north of the Israeli-occupied Yellow Line. Hezbollah, meanwhile, has increased its drone attacks on
Israeli border villages. CNN's Oren Liebermann joins me now live from Jerusalem.
What's notable here, Oren, is that this is the first strike into Beirut since this ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, sensibly Israel and
Hezbollah, was put into place and announced. Give us the latest.
OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN JERUSALEM BUREAU CHIEF: Actually, I have to point out, Bianna, that it is the second strike in Beirut. The first was three weeks
ago, on May 6th. In that case, Israel also targeted, and they say killed, a senior Hezbollah commander. In that case, the commander of the Elite Radwan
Forces.
This time to target another senior commander, one of the commanders in Hezbollah's missile unit, so strikes in Beirut are still rare. The U.S.
largely said those were not allowed as President Donald Trump tried to pursue a ceasefire agreement and a broader peace agreement between Israel
and Lebanon.
But an Israeli source says that this strike in Beirut carried out in the Capital of Lebanon was coordinated with the United States. Not nearly the
only strike that Israel carried out, and over the course of the past several days in Lebanon, as Israel has struck the cities of Tyre, Nabataea,
both of those are north of the Israeli occupied zone.
As well as the Bekaa Valley, this just days after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered Israel to intensify its strikes against Hezbollah, as
Israel has tried to go after Hezbollah infrastructure --.
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Over Tuesday and Wednesday, Israeli strikes, according to Lebanon's Ministry of Public Health, killed a total of 68 people and wounded scores
more. Two of the deadliest days we have seen in Lebanon since the ceasefire. Hezbollah, meanwhile, has kept up a steady barrage of explosive
drone attacks on Israeli forces in Northern Israel and Southern Lebanon.
In the middle of all this, in what is supposed to be a U.S.-brokered extension to the ceasefire, the U.S. will host tomorrow, according to an
Israeli official, a round of talks in the Pentagon between Israeli and Lebanese military representatives to try to move forward on the diplomatic
track here.
There have already been three meetings between ambassadors from Israel and Lebanon. The White House is trying to push forward this broader ceasefire
agreement. And yet when you look on the ground now, it's very hard to see anything that resembles a ceasefire, and that makes the diplomatic track,
even as the White House pushes it forward, a very, very difficult path to hold together, Bianna.
GOLODRYGA: All right. Oren Liebermann reporting live for us. Thank you so much. Well, heartbreaking scenes in Kenya, where 16 students were killed in
a fire at a girls' school in the Rift Valley overnight. The blaze broke out in a dormitory just after midnight. 79 students were injured and taken to
the hospital, though most have now been released. Kenya's Education Minister says the cause of the fire is still under investigation.
And today, the head of the World Health Organization is traveling to the Democratic Republic of Congo, that is where health authorities are battling
an Ebola outbreak linked to more than 1000 suspected cases, and more than 200 deaths.
There are also a handful of cases in neighboring Uganda, which has now closed its border with the DRC. But health officials with Africa's CDC say
at least 11 countries are now at risk.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEAN KASEYA, DIRECTOR GENERAL, AFRICA CDC: We have two countries affected, but we have 11 countries at risk. We were talking about 10 now we added
Somalia this is why we have 11 countries. These 11 countries will also be supported for the preparedness plan, because we don't want countries not to
be ready if they may be contaminated in the next few days. But we are doing our best to stop this outbreak in these two countries and to contend that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: Meantime, the Trump Administration says that Americans exposed to the disease will be sent to Kenya for care. A source says CDC officials
strongly objected to the plan and are furious about it.
Well, right now, specialist cave divers are still searching for the remaining two people trapped in a flooded cave in Laos. Five out of the
seven missing villagers were found alive Wednesday. Here you can see them huddled above the murky waters. Rescuers must now figure out how to bring
them out safely. Randi Kaye has more on this dangerous operation.
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RANDI KAYE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Deep inside this cave in Central Laos, lives are on the line, not just the trapped villagers, but
their rescuers too. It all started about a week ago, on May 19th when seven villagers entered the cave in search of gold. Before they knew it, massive
rains triggered flash flooding, which blocked their exit.
Authorities were alerted to the trapped villagers by a member of the group who managed to escape before the exit was blocked AP reported. For days,
specially trained cave divers tried to reach the group, diving deep into the 1100-foot tunnel, winding their way through the cave's narrow passages,
some just about 23 inches across.
It is so narrow that you have to tilt sideways, duck low, and crawl flat on your stomach to get through one diver said. After hours in the dark,
navigating muddy waters, most days ended in disappointment as rescuers covered in mud returned without finding the villagers.
In this video, a diver reports he left the cave at nearly midnight after rain started again, and they pulled out for their own safety. Helmets,
breathing masks, and gas monitors are also being used to monitor levels of oxygen and toxic gasses inside.
As rescuers pushed deeper into the cave each day, they made noise trying to signal to the trapped villagers that help was on the way. Divers yelled
into the darkness, is anyone there near the cavern where they thought the villagers were? The water just ankle deep.
Rescuers have been pumping water out of the cave. Finally, on Wednesday, this was the moment divers found five of the villagers. They reported all
five were safe. On this Finnish rescuer's Instagram post, he asks each villager his name and how they feel?
They tell him they are not ill, just hungry. The search continues for the two other villagers, but finding these five men is only half the battle.
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They still need to get them out of the cave. As this rescuer said on social media, extraction is still ahead, and it ain't going to be easy. The
trapped villagers were given liquid and gel food, but some of the cave divers must head straight back the way they came to gather more supplies
for the men, so they can build up enough strength for the journey out.
The rescue operation started long before the cave diving. Crews had to hike about 2.5 miles through the jungle to even find the site. Now, one diver
told CNN more than 100 people have joined the operation, including 15 experienced divers and experts who helped save 12 young soccer players and
their coaches who were trapped in a cave in Thailand in 2018. Randi Kaye, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GOLODRYGA: Just incredible. All right, coming up for us, another move by the U.S. Justice Department to target one of President Trump's personal
foes. The DOJ files a criminal investigation into E. Jean Carroll. We bring details ahead. Plus, outrage over World Cup ticket prices is now drawing
legal scrutiny. Why New York and New Jersey Attorneys Generals are investigating just ahead.
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GOLODRYGA: Federal agents wielding batons and appearing to deploy pepper spray clashed violently with protesters outside a New Jersey immigration
facility Wednesday. The protests began nearly a week ago, after some detainees went on a reported hunger and labor strike over what they say are
inhumane conditions at Delaney Hall.
Democratic lawmakers who visited Delaney on Wednesday reported those inside were being given spoiled food with worms or mole and denied medical care.
The Homeland Security Chief is downplaying the situation, denying both poor conditions and the strike.
Well, now to a CNN exclusive. Sources say the U.S. Justice Department has launched a criminal investigation into E. Jean Carroll. She's the Former
Magazine Columnist who accused President Trump of sexual assault and filed two civil lawsuits. Juries had awarded her millions in damages. This
current probe is focused on whether Carroll committed perjury in her testimony, CNN's Paula Reid reports.
PAULA REID, CNN CHIEF LEGAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: The investigation into E. Jean Carroll is just the latest in a series of moves that the Justice
Department has made against President Trump's long-term adversaries. Now, this investigation, we're told, focuses on a 2022 deposition where Carroll
said that she had received no outside funding, but her lawyers later informed the judge that she had received funding from Billionaire Reid
Hoffman for legal fees and other expenses.
Ahead of the trial, the judge found no issue with her credibility and blocked Trump lawyers from even being able to ask about this funding issue.
This case, we are told, is being handled out of the U.S. Attorney's Office in Chicago.
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Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has been recused from this case because of his work, the prior Carroll-related appeal. We're told he has
not been involved in any meetings about this or had any discussions about this investigation. I'm told that it was referred to Chicago, because that
is where Reid Hoffman's nonprofit is located.
Now, Carroll, who is 82-years-old, is currently embroiled in multiple legal battles with President Trump. Juries have awarded her millions of dollars
in damages, but President Trump is appealing those judgments. His appeal of a $5 million judgment in a sexual abuse case has been pending before the
Supreme Court for quite some time. The court has deferred 12 times on whether it will hear that case. Now, Carroll's attorneys declined to
comment on this reporting. Paula Reid, CNN, Washington.
GOLODRYGA: Former U.S. First Lady Jill Biden is speaking out about her husband's infamous debate performance nearly two years after the fact. She
says that she was worried that the then president was suffering a stroke during the 2024 presidential debate. That poor showing ultimately helped
doom Joe Biden's bid for a second term.
In the immediate aftermath of the debate. Both she and Biden's campaign put a positive spin on the performance. Here's what she's saying now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Were you horrified as you saw it unfold?
JILL BIDEN, FORMER U.S. FIRST LADY: I wasn't horrified, I was frightened, because I had never ever seen Joe like that before, or since, never since.
Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You have never seen him like that?
BIDEN: Never no.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What happened?
BIDEN: I don't know what happened. I mean, when I -- as I watched it, I thought, oh my God, he's having a stroke, and it scared me to death.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: Her remarks come as she prepares for a book tour of her new memoir about her time in the White House. Well, sky high ticket prices for
the upcoming World Cup are now under investigation. New York and New Jersey Attorneys General have subpoenaed FIFA documents tied to matches at MetLife
Stadium, looking into complaints about pricing and seating.
They argue that some fans may have been misled about where their seats were actually located. CNN's Brynn Gingras has the latest on this growing
controversy.
BRYNN GINGRAS, CNN U.S. NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: We've been hearing about how these tickets are so expensive for the World Cup games, but what we're
now hearing through these investigations, announced is did basically FIFA violate rules when putting these tickets online, allowing for people to buy
them.
Now, one person that I talked to, a lifelong soccer fan, basically says they feel like FIFA pulled a whole bait and switch. He described to me how
he waited online, the FIFA website, to purchase tickets for the World Cup, spent 12 hours online in a queue, waiting just to actually purchase
tickets, picked two seats next to each other, $515 each.
Good seats on the side of the pitch. And then when he spent another five minutes to get to the checkout, his ticket confirmation showed completely
different seats. Seats that are on the opposite side of the stadium he wanted to go to, behind the goal. So, this is the kind of stories that
we're hearing about.
But also, I imagine these attorneys general are also hearing and wanting to hear more about how this could possibly be, in addition to those high-
ticket prices. Like I said, it's the New York and New York Jersey attorneys general that filed these subpoenas, requesting this some information,
starting this investigation.
But just a couple weeks ago, the Attorney General in California sending a formal inquiry as well to FIFA, asking for specific details about their
ticketing strategy. Basically, what sort of disclosures are given to people who purchase tickets? What do their maps look like when someone is on their
website trying to purchase tickets?
So, a lot of fact-finding trying to figure out how this process goes. Unclear if there will be any restitution in this. Certainly, the World Cup
starts in just a couple of weeks, so probably not likely before these games start, but maybe afterwards. At least that's what one soccer fan told me he
hopes for.
But I can tell you that we did talk to some fans who are saying at least somebody is on our side, because they do feel like they are getting a bit
cheated in losing this game, for sure. Brynn Gingras in New York, CNN.
GOLODRYGA: Well, four-time Grand Slam Tennis Star Naomi Osaka surprised crowds at the French Open in Paris with this outfit. A shiny gold tennis dress designed by Nike. Osaka says that it reminds her of the light
sparkling on the Eiffel Tower at night. She also says it's a nod to France and its famous couture fashion.
The tennis champ added that she was concerned officials would kick her off the court because of how reflective the dress was, so she had multiple
backup outfits. I think it looks amazing.
Well, two Russian cosmonauts took part in a space walk outside of the International Space Station on Wednesday. The expedition commander and
flight engineer picked up scientific equipment that had been placed outside the ISS for research.
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And they worked to install new hardware for a solar radiation experiment. This was the first space-walk for the Russian space agency Roscosmos Sols
this year. Roscosmos, excuse me. Well, a rare medieval manuscript telling the stories of King Arthur, Merlin, and The Holy Grail is heading to
auction, and it could sell for nearly $3 million.
The handwritten book dates back to the 13th or 14th centuries and has reportedly been in private hands for around 700 years. Experts say it's one
of the earliest known versions of the Arthur in legends, complete with gold leaf illustrations and vivid scenes of Merlin and the Knights of the Round
Table. The manuscript goes up for sale at Christie's in London in July.
And finally, this hour, police in Texas go on a wild kangaroo chase. This was Bingus. WACO police say he went on an unexpected walk about Monday
morning. Officers safely captured the runaway roo (ph) and returned him home after a short pursuit. The WACO Police Department joked that a similar
escape happened last year, so they're now calling these routine, get it, patrol operations.
Thankfully, both Bingus and the officers were unharmed. All right, do stay with CNN. There's more "One World" in about 30 minutes time. But first,
"CNN Creators" is up next.
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